At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead social-first creative strategies and elevate pitch quality across the agency.
- Company: Join Ponderosa, a dynamic brand and communications agency in Leeds.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, 25 days holiday, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative team with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of social creativity and make a real impact on ambitious brands.
- Qualifications: Senior-level experience in social-first creative leadership and strong creative judgement.
The predicted salary is between 68000 - 78000 £ per year.
Job Overview
Salary: £68–£78k
Location: Leeds (Hybrid – Tuesday to Thursday in office)
Reporting to: Managing Director
Direct reports: Social Lead (and wider social team)
Why join Ponderosa
Ponderosa is a brand and communications agency that helps ambitious brands grow through powerful ideas and meaningful connections. We bring together strategy, creativity, and digital expertise to deliver work that moves audiences and drives measurable results. As part of Audience Collective, we collaborate across creative, media, research and digital performance to bring broader perspective and greater impact.
The role
This is a senior creative leadership role responsible for shaping Ponderosa’s social‑first thinking, creative quality, and reputation. You’ll set the standard for what great social looks like, how creative it can be, and elevate it across pitches and client work. Challenge the agency to think social first, not last. You will act as part of the senior creative leadership group, shaping overall creative direction alongside Creative and Strategy leadership.
What good looks like
- Ponderosa is known for strong, distinctive, social‑first creative thinking
- Social ideas meaningfully improve pitch win‑rate and new business confidence
- Teams feel creatively challenged, supported and elevated by your feedback
- Social work is platform‑native, culturally sharp and ideas are challenged
- Social thinking influences creative work across the agency, not just within the social team
Key responsibilities
- Social‑first creative leadership
- Own and define what great social creative looks like at Ponderosa
- Set creative standards for tone, storytelling, formats and platform‑native thinking
- Champion social as a starting point for ideas, not an adaptation layer
- Act as the senior creative voice challenging work to be braver, sharper and more culturally relevant
- Pitch leadership & new business elevation
- Lead social‑first thinking within new business pitches and credentials
- Shape pitch narratives, ideas and creative approaches where social plays a defining role
- Elevate pitch work through clear creative judgement, feedback and direction
- Support Growth and MD teams with confident, senior social creative counsel
- Act as a senior creative authority in pitch rooms, helping clients feel confident in bold, social‑first ideas
- Agency‑wide creative influence
- Act as a creative partner to Strategy, Creative, Media and Client teams
- Influence integrated ideas by bringing a social‑first, platform‑native lens
- Push teams to think culturally, creatively and in‑the‑moment where appropriate
- Be a visible, trusted voice in creative reviews and idea development
- Act as a senior, trusted social authority with key clients where creative judgement, platforms or cultural relevance matter
- Team leadership & creative standards
- Line manage the Social Lead and provide senior creative direction to the wider team
- Set clear creative expectations and provide direct, constructive feedback
- Build confidence, judgement and taste within the team over time
- Create an environment where ideas are challenged constructively, not just delivered
- Work in close partnership with MDs and Client Leads to ensure social‑first ideas support commercial growth, retention and long‑term client value
- Social growth & capability building
- Support growth of the social offering through stronger creative reputation and demand
- Identify opportunities where social‑first ideas unlock account growth
- Shape how social capability evolves in response to platforms, culture and client needs
- Ensure influencer and creator work (where used) is idea‑led and culturally credible
- Future capability & innovation
- Stay close to cultural shifts, platform behavior and emerging social formats
- Encourage experimentation with new creative approaches, formats and workflows
- Help the agency test and learn without chasing trends for their own sake
- Ensure innovation improves creative quality, not just novelty
- Contribute to the agency’s external creative reputation through thought leadership, industry presence or awards work where it adds value
- Demonstrate fluency in how AI tools can support social‑first creativity from ideation and prototyping to optimization, using them to enhance creative thinking, not replace it
- Help set principles for the responsible, culturally intelligent use of AI within social creative workflows
- Act as a senior voice in how emerging technologies, including AI, shape creative standards and ways of working
Essential Experience & requirements
- Senior‑level experience leading social‑first creative work in an agency environment
- Strong creative judgement and the confidence to challenge ideas constructively
- Proven experience elevating pitches, ideas or creative output through social thinking
- Deep understanding of how social platforms shape creativity and culture
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders and creative teams with clarity and authority
Nice to have
- Previous Director title, or a standout Senior/Head‑of‑level experience ready to step up
- Experience working on integrated campaigns where social leads the idea
- Influencer or creator experience
- Experience helping shape or grow a social offering through creative excellence
What we offer
- Hybrid working (Leeds office Tuesday–Thursday)
- 25 days’ holiday + 3 celebration days
- 37.5‑hour working week
- Pension, life insurance and income protection
- EAP and 24/7 virtual GP access
Your first 6 months
- Months 0–3: Creative immersion & standard setting
- Get under the skin of Ponderosa, clients and creative culture
- Build trust with Creative, Strategy, Social and Client teams
- Start shaping what “great social creative” looks like
Director of Social in Leeds employer: AC Media
Ponderosa is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration in the heart of Leeds. With a strong focus on social-first thinking, employees are encouraged to push creative boundaries while benefiting from hybrid working arrangements, generous holiday allowances, and comprehensive support for personal and professional growth. The agency's commitment to innovation and cultural relevance ensures that team members are not only challenged but also empowered to make meaningful contributions to ambitious brands.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Social in Leeds
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at AC Media.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from AC Media!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like AC Media, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at AC Media or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Social in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to AC Media:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to AC Media! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at AC Media
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
